What the heck is SEO / S.E.O. ?

OK, so this should have been lesson one of many, rather than what I do have as lesson one, but either way, here it is. If you have no flipping clue what SEO / S.E.O. is and you’re hearing everyone throwing around these acroynms, this is where I will explain it. So read on…

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. OK, so what is Search Engine Optimization? Let’s break it down. Search Engines are basically Google, Yahoo, MSN, Bing, etc. There’re way too many to list, but I think you got the idea what a search engine is. It’s a website that searches for other websites basically. Now, if you don’t know what optimization is you can look it up, but basically we are “optimizing” or making our websites work better with the search engines. What does that mean? If you search for something on Google for example, you get at least 10 organic results and some ads above, below and down the sides. (I’ll get into oragnic in another article). There are pages and pages of information you can sift through to find what you are looking for. Google has certain algerythms to make the most relivant websites appear on page one. It’s doing a combination of things online with your website and around your website to make it more relivant when someone searches for a company like yours.

OK, so what are these things that you need to do to get to the top of the search engines like Google? I’ll tell you, but it’s alot of information and will be spread out over several articles over time. For a few reasons, it’s lots of information to get into in one article, and it’s very valuable information which I wouldn’t be too quick to give out too easily since most companies charge a minimum of $1,000 to help you with this information, and I’m giving it to you free here. The most important thing to know, among all the things you will be doing, which are all based on this one thing, is your keywords. What would someone type into Google to find your company? You need to know what this is. Ask your customers, “If you were to search for a company like mine on the Internet, what would you type into Google?” Write it down. You now have your keywords, and a good base to start from moving forward here. You need to know this or else the rest of the information I give you will be almost completely useless. Using these keywords all over your website and social networking, etc is important.

OK kids, do your homework and get ready for your next lesson on SEO.

Daniel Gauthier is a computer consultant with Twinbytes Inc focusing on computer repairs and other services for small business and personal computers. www.twinbytes.ca